‘Historic action’ on critical minerals may reduce reliance on China Image By Sarah Montalbano and Sarah Rosa During President Trump’s joint address to Congress, he promised “historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the U.S.A.” Prioritizing domestic critical minerals exploration and development is good news for every American who uses modern technology, relies on national defense, or wants a strong economy and affordable, reliable energy. Shortages of critical minerals are a bottleneck to American leadership in innovative energy technologies. As documented in the Center of the American Experiment’s October 2024 report Mission Impossible, one estimate predicts that 115 percent more copper will need to be mined between now and 2050 than has been mined through 2018 just to meet business-as-usual needs. Global vehicle electrification alone will require an additional 55 percent more copper mines than that baseline. That’s just copper. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that lithium demand will increase by a factor of ten, graphite demand will almost quadruple, and demand for nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements will double as countries around the world strive for a cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable energy future. Yet, the U.S. remains completely import-reliant on foreign countries for 12 of the 50 minerals considered critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, and majority-reliant on imports for 28. China dominates mining and refining and doesn’t hesitate to weaponize its control over critical mineral supply chains. In December 2024, China banned exports of antimony, gallium, and germanium to the U.S.—minerals crucial for flame retardants, semiconductors, solar cells, and national defense. A better way Under the new administration, America will look within its borders for mineral deposits to reduce reliance on foreign sources and create new jobs, all while maintaining strong environmental protections and reducing emissions. For example, the U.S. has 70 million metric tons of untapped copper reserves, enough to meet more than 20 years of domestic demand. While mines can only be developed where there are deposits that can be economically developed, up until recently, U.S. policy impeded domestic mining through lengthy permitting processes and even by declaring some deposits off-limits. The reality is that no form of energy production is without tradeoffs. The U.S. boasts the highest environmental standards in the world, along with a strong record of safe and responsible stewardship. Offshoring mining to countries like China, which tolerate environmental destruction and disregard worker health and safety, doesn’t solve the problem – it just shifts the consequences out of sight, out of mind. Abundant domestic resources States like Alaska, Arizona, Minnesota, and Nevada are rich with untapped resources that can be responsibly developed. In response to President Trump’s comments at the joint address, an Alaska state geologist with the Department of Natural Resources told reporters that Alaska has 49 out of the 50 critical minerals and that “there’s a potential for a lot more mines to be developed in Alaska.” Minnesota’s Duluth Complex is the largest undeveloped copper-nickel resource in the world, yet two proposed mines to tap into these resources had their leases revoked and permits canceled in recent years – one after two decades of permitting. The right framework Permitting holds up not only mining projects, but any project that needs a federal permit, including oil and gas, nuclear, hydropower, solar, wind; infrastructure like roads, transmission lines, and pipelines; and manufacturing facilities and data centers. American Experiment’s report estimates that, to build the one million miles of transmission lines necessary for a clean energy future, it would take 1,400 years at the current permitting rate. Clearly, the slow pace of permitting is hindering our ability to meet future energy demands. The right regulatory framework and supply chain capacities must be in place for investments in clean American energy production to be effective. The U.S. needs a secure, growing supply of critical minerals to fuel its modern economy and safeguard national security. Domestic mining can achieve these crucial goals while protecting the environment and demonstrating that responsible energy development starts at home. It’s past time to let America build. Sarah Montalbano is an energy and environmental policy fellow at Center of the American Experiment. Sarah Rosa is Policy Director at the American Conservation Coalition. *The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EnergyPlatform.News.
